Public advocate uses hearing on cable giants to advance bid for New York attorney general [telecom]

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James slams union targets Charter and Verizon, but misstates role in franchise dispute

By Will Bredderman

The leading candidate for the state's top prosecutorial post made her case to union members at a hearing this week with an attack on two cable and Internet giants.

Public Advocate Letitia James tore into Verizon and Charter Communications, which operates in the five boroughs as Spectrum, at a hearing of the City Council's Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. She testified despite having no vote on the matter - but her appearance made sense given that both firms have had labor difficulties in recent years, and James is running in the Democratic primary to replace former state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.